[Separation and purification of taxol using normal- and reversed-phase chromatography in tandem].

A method is described for separation and purification of taxol from the extract of Taxus cuspidate callus culture with Al2O3 normal-phase chromatography and C18 reversed-phase chromatography, The operating conditions of the two chromatographic steps were investigated and optimized. The content of taxol was greatly increased after Al2O3 chromatography. The purity of taxol reached 95% from less than 1.0% after the two chromatographic steps. The final purity of taxol was more than 98% after the process of crystallization. The 13CNMR spectrum of the product was identical to that of taxol reported in the literature.